• Operators arrange loose items into required pattern to form unit load.
• Lift and turn tables are often used to facilitate the loading and unloading of goods.
• For partially-mechanised palletizers, a powered device is used to transfer layers of unit load arranged by the operators onto a pallet and then lower the load for the next layer.

(b) Robotic Pick and Place Palletizers

• Fully automated machines to build unit loads.
• Its operations are very similar to that of a manual palletizing equipment.

(c) Conventional Stripper Plate Palletizers

• Fully automated device for building unit loads.
• Used when throughput level for identical loads is high.
• Its capacity, ranging from 30 to 180 items per minute, is generally higher as compared to a pick and place palletizer because an entire layer if placed on the load at one time.

Typically, there are two kinds of pattern formation:

1. In-line pattern - formations are ideal for high speed operation, but its drawbacks are that flexible patterns are not feasible and take up more space than right angle as it is a much larger machine.


2. Right angle pattern - formation permits flexible patterns, supports a wide variety of case sizes and types, and has a compact design. However, it has limited capacity of up to 80 items per minute.